Opa! What a fantastic 82nd annual Greek Independence Day Parade, this past Sunday in Manhattan, along Fifth Avenue from 64th to 79th Street.This year, past parade Chairperson and current GOP mayoral contender John Catsimatidis passed the parade baton to Dino Rallison Catsimatidis.
While Cats, as he likes to be called, may not be pulling all the parade levers this year, his presence couldn’t be missed riding atop of a float with his wife, family and supporters.
The parade executive director was former Bay Ridgeite Georgea KontzamanisGeorge VenizelosMike Bloomberg.
Several Bay Ridgers were also in the march.Among them was Sandy Vallas
Also joining the Hellenic march, which celebrates 192 years of independence from the Ottoman Empire, were GOP City Council candidate John QuaglioneAndrew GounardesCharles Schumer and Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis. Two local bands we spotted were the Greek School of Plato Marching Band and a musical contingent from the A. Fantis Parochial School.
***Kevin Walsh, who helms the very popular web site, Forgotten New York
He will be giving a presentation at the Bay Ridge Historical Society on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m., in the Shore Hill Community Room, on 91st Street between Colonial Road and Shore Road.
Walsh, who was born and raised in Bay Ridge, and watched the Narrows Verrazano Bridge being constructed, also has a wealth of information and photos about areas many local residents may not be familiar with.
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Our good friend Ron Schweigerst Street. Admission is $10, and the center will be offering knishes, hot pretzels and egg creams for sale. For reservations, call 718-836-3101 or click on to office@bayridgejewishcenter.org.
***The Democrats for Change will be holding its annual dinner on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m., in the grand ballroom of the Dyker Beach Golf Course, off Seventh Avenue on 86th Street.
Honorees include Jane Kelly as Community Leader, Laurie Windsor as Civic Leader and Councilmember Vinnie Gentile as Democrat of the Year.Club officers are Jonathan YedinDiana KroskyMargaret BrennanBennett SilversteinLinda OrlandoKevin Peter Carroll is a former president.
Another Democrat has tossed his hat into the mayoral slugfest. Apparently taking a page out of Sal Albaneses playbook, Staten Islander, Reverend Erick Salgado has announced he is also running.
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The Brooklyn Real Estate Board will hold its Spring Fling on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Sirico’s, 8023 13th Avenue.The star-studded awardees will be Dr. Michael Szczepanski for Humanitarianism; Attorney Richard Rodriguez for being a prominent business leader; McKinley Junior High School Principal Janice Geary for education leadership; Brooklyn Board of Realtors CEO Rich Schulhoff for real estate leadership; Doreen GarsonPeter DeBlasio
Tickets are $85 each.For reservations, contact committee Chairperson Margaret Ranieri at 917-562-3236, or Patricia Laudano at 718-748-5959.
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To reach Ted General via the Internet his e-mail address is:
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On the Avenue: Bay Ridge’s parade season in full swing 
On the Avenue: Kiwanis Club fetes ‘Finest’ with award named for late chief